Harry stood there in disbelief. He knew today Dick was coming back from a mission he'd gone on with the Outlaws for some reason and knew he'd stop by the manor for the day before heading back to their apartment in Bludhaven. He was in Gotham for work anyway so agreed to surprise Dick when he'd come across both Duke and Cass out and about. Out of everyone in the Wayne family, these two were the only ones who seemed to like him which hurt considering him and Dick had been together for almost three years now, the first almost two years of knowing each other had been Dick after getting to know Harry, trying to get a date before Harry had caved.
After everything that happened back in England and all the lies that had been uncovered when he'd gone to Gringotts after everything, had shattered him. Almost everything he'd thought he'd had was him just being manipulated into being used by almost everyone around him. But now, as he stood with Duke and Cass on either side of him staring at the scene before him, he knew that he just seemed destined to be used no matter what. And to think that he'd planned to tell Dick about his magic this weekend, for their third fucking anniversary, guess it didn't matter anymore. The three stood staring into the lounge room where it seemed the rest of the family was located along with the Outlaws minus Bruce and Alfred, neither of whom seemed to like Harry either, for no apparent reason. They stared as Jason catcalled while simultaneously being disgusted with Dick who was making out with Koriand'r while no one blinked an eye because apparently this wasn't anything new.
"I'll see myself out." Harry whispers to Duke and Cass before turning around and walking out of the manor.
Harry walked down the drive that was wet as it apparently had started raining at some point since the trio had walked into the house. Harry walked down to the gates where he walked out and then down the road for some time before stopping. "Kreacher."
"Master Harry. Why are you standing in the rain?" Kreacher asks as he snaps his fingers to make the rain stop around Harry and for his clothes and person to dry.
"I need you to not be seen and get everything of mine that may be in Dick's room here in the manor and anything of mine at our apartment in Bludhaven. It seems that I'm just bound to be used over and over again. We're leaving. Where I don't know but I trust you'll know how to find me." Harry says staring off into the distance.
Kreacher doesn't immediately respond as he stares at his Master. After the war and the lies had been uncovered, he'd been hesitant to follow even if the Black family was going to be restored to some degree but in the end chose to when British wixen seemed to just be suffocating Harry. He'd been skeptical of the Wayne family as a whole even before Dick Grayson decided to date his Master and especially after when Master Duke Thomas and Mistress Cassandra Cain were the only ones to like Harry out of the family. He knew Master had been planning to tell Grayson about magic this weekend for their third anniversary and found himself happy that now it wasn't going to happen. "Yes Master Harry." Kreacher disappears at the same time that Harry James Potter-Black leaves Gotham and Bludhaven for good.
Duke and Cass were happy when they'd come across Harry while out in Gotham. They weren't entirely sure why the others didn't like Harry with Dick or just Harry in general. Even Bruce and Alfred for some reason didn't like Harry which just baffled the two because Harry was honestly the best for Dick out of anyone he'd dated. He seemed to curb Dick's playboy aspects that he seemed to pick up from 'Brucie Wayne' which was a disgrace honestly. So, when they roped Harry into coming back to the manor with them to surprise Dick instead of waiting for him to leave for Bludhaven the following day, they were super excited. Upon getting to the manor and the lounge room where everyone seemed to be though, that ended up being a mistake that would send ripples through the family.
Duke stared as he watched Dick making out with Kori and no one blinking an eye as if this was something that regularly happened especially with the way the rest of the Outlaws were acting. And Duke was absolutely furious, and he could tell Cass was too on the other side of Harry. Harry who was in between the two radiating pain, sadness, and depressingly, to Duke at least, acceptance, as if this was something that he should've expected to happen. Harry whispers that he'll see himself out before either Duke or Cass can really react and is gone by the time they seem to come back to themselves.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Duke seethes as he glares at Dick.
Everyone turns to the door where Duke and Cass are standing. Dick looks surprised and not even a little sorry as he detaches himself from Kori who still has her arms around Dick's neck. The others around the room all seem to look confused at the two for some reason.
"Nothing's wrong apart from a few bruises that are almost healed." Dick says as he tilts his head.
"Bullshit."
"Language Master Duke." Alfred says as he brings in some snacks and drinks with Bruce trailing in behind him.
"Fuck that. Why the fuck are you making out with someone who IS NOT YOUR FUCKING BOYFRIEND OF ALMOST THREE FUCKING YEARS?!" Duke says before yelling stunning the rooms occupants.
Cass places her hand on Duke's arm and just nods her head when he turns to look at her.
"Really Master Duke?" Alfred asks seemingly more concerned about Duke's language than the fact that Dick is cheating but probably has been cheating on Harry for who knows how long.
"How long?" Cass manages to ask before Duke breaks out into more yelling.
"What?" Kori asks as her eyebrows furrow, and she seems to realize that something is going on that she doesn't seem to know.
"She's asking how long has Dick been cheating on Harry with you? How long have you two been making out and probably been fucking when this weekend would've been his three-year anniversary with Harry. How long have you been a fucking homewrecker? How long has this apparently been an open secret among the rest of you?" Duke asks as he tries to calm himself and rein in his anger.
"Dick?" Kori asks.
"It's fine. Harry's okay." Dick responds flapping his hand around.
"Is he? It didn't seem so when he fucking walked out before I questioned what the fuck was wrong with you. It didn't seem so when I could feel his pain and sadness as he watched you two fucking make out. It didn't seem so when he seemed to accept it like he should've expected it. I can guarantee that Harry's gone and isn't coming back. You all disgust me. You have all unfairly disliked Harry for no apparent reason as soon as he finally agreed to go on a date with Dick after almost two years of knowing each other and turning down Dick. And apparently you all knew that Dick was still a playboy piece of shit that ended up ruining probably the best thing he'll ever have. I hope you're fucking happy because I'm out. I will work with you all but that is it. I'll collect my shit, but I'm no longer part of this family if this is how you're going to be." Duke says in a monotone startling many of the family before walking out to grab his stuff.
"Gone." Cass says before she too turns and follows Duke out.
The room sits in silence before Jason snorts and mutters drama queens and goes back to ignoring most of the others while striking up a conversation with Roy and Bizarro. Dick stares after his siblings before turning back to Kori and placating her as she seems very startled and confused on everything that just happened. Bruce and Alfred look at each other before sighing and leaving the room, Bruce to his office and Alfred to take care of starting dinner for Dick's return from his mission. Damian turns back to the video games he was playing with Stephanie and Tim and Barbara go back to their conversation. Everyone acting like it was no big deal not knowing that this would fracture the family and be the start of the ripples Bruce could not fix no matter how much he tried to.
After the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry squirreled himself away in Grimmauld Place for a few days before being summoned to Gringotts. There the lies and the manipulations were uncovered that further shattered Harry than what the war had already done. He paid the goblins for the damage caused and they helped him with the mess that was discovered. He spent roughly a year out of sight with no one knowing where he was, and Grimmauld Place locked to everyone. When others tried getting the goblins to do something they were rejected and told that they'd be lucky if they survived the fallout.
Harry with help from Kreacher took the potions needed from the goblin healers and got better along with helping with unlocking more of the small bit of Metamorphmagus abilities he had from Sirius having blood adopted him when he became his godfather, god he wished Sirius had told him that but was clearly another thing that was manipulated in his life. It was very little compared to what Tonks had been able to do but he changed his hair to his mother's almost blood red color, managed to make his scar disappear, and lightened his skin tone so it wasn't as dark, and nobody would think Harry James Potter when looking at him. So, he became Harry Juniper Evans so he could live his life and not be noticed. With help from the goblins, he got in contact with the ICW to retake his O.W.L.S and then take his N.E.W.T.S and even to take all of the necessary tests needed for a muggle education. While he stayed hidden for the year after the war, he still felt the suffocation of the British Wizarding World, so he managed to convince Kreacher to leave England and go to Gotham with him. It had taken a month before Kreacher caved but it ended up being the best for them. With help from the top people in the ICW who knew the truth he got a job that he could do from Gotham for MACUSA without having to live anywhere near Metropolis when the city didn't speak to him the way both Gotham and Bludhaven did before he settled on Gotham.
Over the almost five years, seven years since the end of the war, Harry never thought that he would end up leaving behind the Harry Evans persona and becoming Harry James Potter-Black again or that he would be leaving the Gotham and Bludhaven area for good. But with his relationship with Dick over, since he's probably been cheated on the entirety of his relationship or most of it, there was no need for him to be a light skinned blood red haired male in his mid-twenties. He'd done that to escape what England had done and now that he'd been betrayed and used again, there was no reason to not go back when it seemed he wasn't meant for anything but being manipulated and used. He made sure the relevant people at MACUSA and the ICW knew and then left to wander across the country before he decided to stop. He'd never really visited the rest of America that much apart from jobs as him and Dick never really traveled despite both wanting to.
He enjoyed himself as him and Kreacher wandered around the country and occasionally talked to Duke and Cass. He was rather surprised on the first call when Duke informed him that both him and Cass had moved out of the manor permanently and only worked with the family. Any attempt to rope them into talking or family time was rebuffed, and Cass was debating on moving permanently to Hong Kong where she'd been briefly before Harry came into the picture. Duke was debating if he wanted to stay in the area or move elsewhere as well as thinking that if they did, they might change their vigilante identities to show that they weren't affiliated with the Bats anymore. That last bit, regardless of if they did it or not, is what really struck Harry as to the two loving him and how much damage the Wayne's managed to do by ostracizing Harry and not saying anything in regard to Dick openly cheating on Harry. Duke and Cass kept to themselves the fact that they'd had conversations with Dick about possibly proposing to Harry because they knew that would hurt him even more than he already was because Dick was thinking about it while knowingly cheating.
Harry had debated for some time after that conversation about telling the two the truth and Kreacher was the one to tell him he should when they did finally settle and that they would be good to tell his secret to because they would clearly keep it. Harry smiled softly at that knowing that Kreacher was right, and it felt right to tell the two the truth, especially as anytime they facetimed, he had to shift back to his Harry Evans persona since that's what they knew. Though he was sure that Duke and Cass knew there was more to him than what they knew, especially Duke with his powers which was fine. Whereas Cass just seemed to know things and Harry still was convinced she might be a squib of some kind with the way she knows things that can't be picked out from normal means. He's half tempted to adopt them himself even though they've both adults themselves, regardless of the fact that Duke isn't even 20 yet and Cass isn't really all that much younger than him. They're both like his little siblings, ones that he didn't ever think he'd get again after learning about how he was used for 'the greater good'. He sighs as he fondly shakes his head thinking of the two who care more for him than Richard 'Dick' Grayson ever did despite the apparent almost three-year relationship.
John Constantine and Zatanna Zatara found themselves blankly staring at the screen and not even opening their copies of the files that Batman was presenting to the Justice League and the Justice League Dark. Between them Captain Marvel was fidgeting nervously which had them trying to stop themselves from just grabbing him and leaving. They stared at the symbols on the screen knowing this was about to very likely get ugly because Batman is Batman and doesn't know when to quit.
"So, in conclusion, I would allow you three into Gotham and Nightwing is fine with you being in Bludhaven while we figure out possible next targets for whatever this cult is to stop them from trying to summon whatever it is they're after." Batman says while also pointing to Nightwing who is sitting beside Superman.
"Right. Well, I'll let the right people at the ICW know while Zatanna lets the right ones at MACUSA know and we'll get back to you." John says as he stands up with a hand on one of Captain Marvel's arms while Zatanna nods along from the other side of Captain Marvel holding her own file.
"Hold on. What is this ICW and Macosa?" Superman asks halting the trio.
"Organizations that can help due to the nature of those symbols. And no Batman you can't come with. They are a part of what's known as the Wizarding World, the wixen that went into hiding due to the witch hunts and have stayed that way for their own safety and due to their society as a whole. They're extremely selective of who in the wider world apart from world leaders know about them. They know about the things prevalent in the wider world but are still keeping to themselves because it would end in disaster if they came out of the woodwork again so to speak. Your paranoia is known to them, and they want nothing to do with you because you have to know everything about an unknown that sometimes ends up in disaster and it's because you don't know when to stop. We will let you know when and if you need to because chances are they will have their own people take care of this because of this attempt to summon the Master of Death. Something that in their world is nothing more than part of a children's story tied to a family which comes from that symbol that was only recently able to be reclaimed from what their version of Hitler did when he claimed the symbol for himself over a 20 some odd year span. You want to die permanently, then be my guest and get in their way." John rants not having realized that Captain Marvel was so nervous that he'd started flickering between this form and his civilian identity of Billy Batson.
"John." Zatanna says.
What?" John asks before turning to look over at her and Captain Marvel, "Well shit."
Captain Marvel seems to have completely decided to stay in his civilian identity after flickering in nerves for some time as John looks over after ranting to the Justice League but mostly Batman. Billy stands next to Zatanna, his body still fidgeting as he tries to make himself smaller than he already is as the members of the Justice League that are there stare at the civilian identity of Captain Marvel which happens to be a teenage boy.
"What is the meaning of this?" Wonder Woman asks as she gets up and places a hand on her lasso.
However, it turns out to be a bad decision as Billy starts to flicker between forms again in nervous agitation. Zatanna carefully grabs him to help try and regulate his breathing to calm him down while John hisses before whirling around to face the Justice League.
"This does not leave those that are here. That means you don't go tell the rest of your Bats and then dig into his background Batman. This is Captain Marvel's civilian identity and no he didn't exactly have a choice when it was dumped onto him years ago. If I have to place a charm so that this doesn't leave this room, I will. I will not put him in danger because you will not like the outcome if you meddle with what you don't know. If I get even the tiniest hint that you've decided to dig Batman, you will regret it." John seethes knowing that out of everyone, Batman is going to be the biggest problem here.
"Now John," Black Canary starts before being interrupted.
"I have to tell dad." Billy utters into the room after being calmed down.
"We'll be there with you kid but yeah we've got to tell him." Zatanna says as she rubs her hands up and down Billy's arms.
"And why would his apparent father need to know?" Green Arrow asks narrowing his eyes at the three.
"Because his father is a descendant of the family whose symbol is being used here, the Peverell's. He's part of the Wizarding World and there are now people attempting to do something they clearly don't know or understand anything about. Even if there are some within this cult that know the wizarding world, the Master of Death is nothing but a fairy tale from a children's story in their world. There have been people over the centuries who believe the story is real but this, has never been seen before and is extremely dangerous. Which is why you all are now going to stay the fuck out of it. If you're lucky, the wixen you come across from the ICW or MACUSA will just make you forget about this so to not jeopardize their society."
"And if we're unlucky?" Martian Manhunter asks already having an idea and seemingly being one of the only ones to agree with the three members of Justice League Dark.
"Death. And one none of you would come back from either." Zatanna says as she glares at the members.
"I suggest you all take this seriously before you make enemies you don't want. Batman and his various Bats are already on thin fucking ice with them." John states as he moves to lay a hand on Billy's shoulder.
"And why are we on thin ice? What have we ever done to them?" Nightwing asks perplexed and irritated.
"Batman's paranoia. They know the lengths it goes to and that he doesn't know when to stop. They know that the rest of you bloody Bats are the same way even if it's not to the extremes that Batman's is. Association with him puts you on their radars as possible threats to monitor." John says as he squeezes Billy's shoulder in comfort.
"And the rest of us aren't seen as threats? How is it Flash has never come across them before?" Aquaman asks confused.
"That is not something I know. And they've got magic mate. There's a reason they aren't known to the wider world and have been able to stay hidden."
John sighs as he turns to Zatanna completely done with this meeting that has derailed spectacularly. He needs a drink so goddamn bad and to get Billy back to Harry before he combusts in nervous energy. And they really need to let Harry along with the ICW and MACUSA know what the fuck is happening. Both him and Zatanna throw up a shield around the three of them when Batman moves towards them. He watches as the League stare shocked at the perceived hostility towards the three of them. He tracks as Batman slowly and carefully raises his hands up in surrender though he knows the Bat is irritated regardless of what he's showing to them.
"We don't mean any of you any harm." Flash says nervously looking between Batman and the three members of JLD.
"We're leaving. We've warned you and if you go against it, it's on your head not ours." Zatanna says as she turns to follow John and Billy out of the Watchtower.
Billy Batson was fourteen when he met Harry James Potter-Black in Fawcett City. He'd shifted back from his Captain Marvel form in pain in some alleyway after a fight. He'd been struggling to breath when the man had wandered down the alley and stopped in front of him. He'd crouched down as he asked if Billy was okay, not that he could really respond that well. He knew the voices had gone dead silent for a moment before furious whispering had broken out among them. Billy couldn't do much but hazily look at the man that was probably in his twenties that was trying to help. He heard a sigh before everything had gone dark. He'd woken sometime later on a bed somewhere he didn't know and not in pain like he'd been in before. He could hear furious whispers in the distance but was trying to get his bearings before he even bothered with that. It took roughly 5 minutes before he was sitting up and not nauseous and another 5 minutes before, he was standing in the doorway to the room he was in. He stared in confusion at the scene before him. The man who had saved him apparently, was sat looking amused on a couch sandwiched between two kids that he's pretty sure are Bats, Zatanna Zatara sitting in a chair with her head in her hands and John Constantine muttering as he paces back and forth before the couch. Everything after that was a bit of a blur but he did get the confirmation that the two others on the couch were Bats, Duke Thomas who was Signal and Cassandra Cain who was Orphan. What he remembers the most though is finding out about Harry and then being stunned when the 25-year-old asked him if he could adopt him. He eventually agreed a few days after he woke up after talking to John, Zatanna, and even getting input from the voices.
Billy ended up thriving by letting Harry adopt him and was happier than he had been considering he'd been living on the streets and doing far too much work on the Watchtower or for the JLD no matter how much both John and Zatanna tried getting him to stop. He homeschooled a bit before going back to school with others and gained a life he didn't ever think he would after becoming Captain Marvel. Finding out everything about Harry though had him curled up cuddling the man because it was ridiculous and heartbreaking what happened to him. The voices were appalled as there was obviously a lot, they didn't know but had them angered when they gained the needed context. He enjoyed Duke and Cass's presence and gained a dislike for Batman and the rest of the Bats when they revealed what was going on after Harry and Dick's relationship ended and where that left them as the only two who seemed to see how cruel the rest of the family was for no known reason. He found out their less than dramatic way of finding out Harry's truth than what he, John, and Zatanna had. Though John's reaction apparently had been worse since he sold his soul a bunch and now it was like shredded cheese and reacted a certain way with the type of wixen Harry was apparently.
Billy would spend the next two and a half years absolutely thriving living with Harry after being adopted. It'd take a year and a half after being adopted before he'd carefully bring up changing his name to Peverell-Black. He'd stand stunned as Kreacher latched onto him crying while saying the Black family was growing since, he wanted to add it to his name. He remembers crying into Harry's chest when Harry repeatedly asked him if he was sure and then how happy he was that Billy decided that he wanted to carry the Peverell and Black names. Duke and Cass joined in the celebration when they came home as they'd ended up moving to Fawcett City as well and became a great aunt and uncle to him. They'd held a little party after the papers and everything went through that had Zatanna happy and John cursing up a storm but also happy, nonetheless.
So, when he'd gone to the Watchtower with Zatanna and John for a meeting, he didn't expect for a kinda literal shitshow to happen. He didn't expect to dazedly stare at the screen seeing the Peverell symbol and have everything apart from a cult attempting to apparently summon the Master of Death before static filled his eardrums. He also didn't expect for his civilian identity to be partially leaked from his nerves having him flicker between identities. He was just thinking about how some cult was coming up with a way and attempting the way to summon his dad. He was shocked when Harry had eventually told him about the Peverell brothers and that the story was real to some degree and that he was the Master of Death due to not only his ancestry but also what transpired during the war he won. Oh, dad was not going to be happy because it was clear based on some niggling feeling in his gut that some of the people involved in this cult were wixen. His dad was going to throw a bigger gasket than the ICW and MACUSA combined when he finds out.
Harry, Duke, and Cass were waiting for Billy, John, and Zatanna to get back from the meeting at the Watchtower. Duke and Cass watched from the couch as Harry muttered under his breath while pacing in the living room. Kreacher was in the kitchen making snacks for everyone because the text they'd gotten from Zatanna that they had to talk about the meeting meant that it was absolutely nothing good and most likely something that involved wixen based on the way the message was phrased.
Duke and Cass had spent the six months after Harry had left coming up with plans upon plans that under any other situation, would've made Batman proud for their preparation for any outcome. Instead, they were plans on the next steps for the two as they pulled away from the family and only ever responded when it came to patrolling Gotham. Aside from that, they completely cut the family out as it was clear there was no remorse to any of their conduct, they knew they needed to figure out where they were going from there. When it was close to seven months, they were invited to Fawcett City where Harry decided to settle down based on a gut feeling. They were amused when days after the move Harry told them the truth and they admitted what they'd figured out correctly or had wondered about. Then only another couple of days later they met Billy Batson, who was Captain Marvel and knew immediately that he'd become family whether or not he accepted the adoption offer. It was amusing to watch Zatanna and Constantine's reactions, especially Constantine's. That man was so stressed and couldn't even drink or smoke in his frustration as Kreacher stopped every single attempt. From there it was easy to decide to move to Fawcett City where they'd be close to Harry. They were amused when they told the three members of the JLD what was going on with the Batfam and watched as they all decided to put even more of a distance between them and the distain grew.
Duke and Cass hadn't looked forward to actually telling the Batfam their decision. They'd watched as the entire family, including Alfred and Barbara tried just about everything to get them to stay. They watched in detachment as it slowly, finally sunk in for the family how much they screwed up when every single piece of equipment they had was laid out on the table of the Batcave because they weren't going to keep something given to them by someone that they no longer trusted. The family could take care of Gotham just fine without the two of them and no they weren't going to say where they were moving to as they weren't members of the batfamily or Wayne family anymore, so it wasn't necessary for them to know. They were happy leaving and didn't look back and reinvented themselves as Shadow and Lumiere Du Jour; Harry had cried when Duke chose a name that referenced the Blacks while Kreacher just made a feast of his favorite foods. They'd slowly gotten into a routine after patrolling while also actually having more of a life than they'd had in Gotham due to living with not only a wizard and house elf but also the champion of magic, a title Billy seemed to dislike as much as Harry hated the titles given to him by the British wixen. They managed to enjoy trips around Wisconsin and the general Midwest while steering clear of Kansas and Missouri as they didn't want to accidentally come across Clark or Barry whether as civilians or as Superman and the Flash. They enjoyed a life they didn't get in Gotham as it was clear the batfam was responsible for the never-ending cycle of having a poor life balance between their two identities.
Now as the two watched Harry pace and listen to Kreacher move around the kitchen they wondered how bad the fallout of whatever was going on was going to be. Without knowing the details, they had a feeling that Batman wasn't going to listen, and shit was going to hit the fan. They stood up when Harry stopped pacing as the three walked in almost 30 minutes after the message was sent despite knowing that it wouldn't typically take that long. They shared a look as Billy all but dove for Harry and latched onto him like an octopus. The brief glance they got before Billy's face was smushed into Harry's chest told them that the delay was because they had to calm down Billy.
Harry wrapped his arms around Billy while looking at John and Zatanna obviously concerned.
"Let's sit down because this isn't good." Zatanna says.
After they all sat and Kreacher placed food onto the table they stared at each other before John brought out a file from his coat and handed it over to Duke and Cass to look at. When Kreacher then set down a glass of alcohol for John, it was clear that even Kreacher knew whatever was going on was really, really bad news.
John took the glass and downed and looked at the other three, "A cult in the Gotham and Bludhaven area is trying to summon the Master of Death."
Duke and Cass stared at each other before looking at John and Zatanna. At Zatanna's nod they opened the file and started looking through all the information. Harry however, had stiffened at John's words and Billy's arms around him tightened. The group sat in silence as the two looked over the information and the rest looked at each other. John looked absolutely done while Zatanna looked contemplative about the way Harry reacted clearing seeing that he knew far more than he'd said in the past.
"What do you know Harry?" Zatanna asked knowing that it'd be easier now to know so when her and John let the ICW and MACUSA know, that had all the information they could to give.
"Let me look at the information first so I know how to go about this conversation because it's going to be probably worse than I'm already thinking."
Zatanna nods and hands over another file for him to look over. The group spends the next twenty minutes in silence eating and looking over everything. Duke and Cass go over the information while pointing things out to each other while Billy remains attached to Harry while he finds out the shitshow that's unfolding.
"Kreacher."
Kreacher appears to refill John's glass and hand one to Harry clearly seeing that it's needed for this conversation.
"Alright. First things first, the whole Master of Death thing is real. I know you all know the story, so I won't bother repeating it. The three Peverell brothers that the story reference are obviously my ancestors, the youngest brother Ignotus, is my direct ancestor and the one whose daughter became part of the Potter family. The cloak is real, it's the one I have that's been passed down, the wand referenced is the one that I wear but avoid reaching for when I even bother to use a wand, the stone is locked away and I haven't used since the war. The war is where the whole Master of Death thing became even more real than I expected since I only learned about the story during the horcrux hunt. Walking to my death and living, I became the Master of Death at 17. Wixen age slower than others but I will age even slower, if I ever really do at all. Mort has never been very clear on that. When you two leave to tell the ICW and MACUSA, I will talk to him to see what he thinks or knows can be done. But I honestly don't have high hopes because I have a bad feeling this is only going to get worse, and I will somehow end up being summoned by a fucking cult. With what's all in the files, it's almost a guarantee that there are wixen among this cult which means this is going to be ugly. And knowing that this is happening around Gotham and Bludhaven even worse because the ley lines in the cities are going to make everything overpowered most likely. And no matter what you told Batman; he's going to make it worse because he can't leave well enough alone."
The room was left in silence once Harry sat back and ran his hand through Billy's hair trying to comfort himself along with Billy with this mess that was discovered. Duke and Cass shared a silent conversation as they finally had a missing piece to the fact, they knew there was more to Harry that he'd left out and they don't blame him. Zatanna threw her head back against the chair she was sitting in and stared at the ceiling knowing that it absolutely was going to get worse finding out that the Master of Death was real, and a fucking cult was trying to summon Harry. John just stared blankly at Harry for a moment before cursing and then getting up and pacing.
"This makes far too much sense. You're the bloody Master of Death. Which is real. Explains why I reacted the way I did when I first met you and could feel the power radiating from you. Oh, this is so bad, we're bloody screwed. And Bats isn't going to leave well enough alone either despite warning him that depending on it could end in his death." John devolves into furious mutters from there as he continues to pace.
The others all slowly continue to nibble at the snacks and drinks Kreacher provided before John calms down somewhat to sit down and knock back another drink. He claps his hands together and then the group gets to discussing what was in the files and what they can add to the debriefs with the ICW and MACUSA now that they know the Master of Death is real and Harry very much could end up getting summoned by a cult if they get it working.
Martian Manhunter watched the rest of the Justice League devolve into arguing after the three members of the JLD they'd invited left. Batman mostly stayed silent while Nightwing argued along with the others. No one else seemed to be taking it as seriously as the JLD made it out to be apart from J'onn. He could tell that Batman was going to dig where he was told not to and based on what he could tell from the three members, honestly could very likely end up in his permanent death. As he sits back and watches the squabbling between the others, he wonders when it seemed that they'd all lost their braincells and he seemed to be the only one using his when there were still things about Earth that he didn't know or understand. He does know that whatever is about to happen, that he wants nothing to do with it when no one but him is going to listen to the warnings given to them. The Justice League may not always get along with the JLD, many straight up didn't like them, but when they said something in regard to something they knew very little to next to nothing about, they typically listened. For some reason that seems to have gone out the window with this case and for the past two years in terms of Batman and his family if J'onn really thinks about it. Something happened that seems to be affecting them more than normal and is clearly affecting their thinking. J'onn decides to leave as it's clear they're going to get nowhere but where they were told to not go. As he walks out of the meeting room he wonders if he should reach out to John and Zatanna or wait for them to come forward.
John collapsed on the couch after his meeting with the ICW. It went about as well as he expected. He ignored Zatanna who was in her typical chair while Kreacher puttered around in the kitchen. Billy was at school and both Duke and Cass were at their jobs. He's not sure when him and Zatanna had practically moved into Harry's house but sometimes, he finds that he doesn't actually mind it all that much. He is concerned though because it's been a couple of days since him and Zatanna had left, and Harry still isn't back from wherever he went to talk to Mort. Mort, who is Death. The fact that Death is a very real being stresses him out even more from all the deals and shit he's done to his soul. He honestly hopes he never actually meets the being but won't hold out hope since Harry is the Master of Death, something that again is also real. As if all the shit they deal with being part of the JLD, a branch of the JL wasn't bad enough. Thankfully Kreacher has actually been supplying him with alcohol this time instead of taking it away, though he's still taking his cigs. He knows wixen are going to head to Gotham and Bludhaven to try and head off and stop the fucking cult but knows that it's probably not going to make a difference because he just knows the Bat is going to ignore every warning and threat he was told at the meeting. As John rolls over to face the ceiling he just hopes that nothing happens to Billy though because he can guarantee that that will end about as well as this cult thing when they realize that Harry is the same one, they were absolute wankers to. God, he hates cults so fucking much.
Dick sat on the rooftop of a building in Bludhaven staring out at the city. He was frustrated beyond belief with this cult problem that was going back and forth between here and Gotham for some reason. Him and Bruce thought they'd be able to solve it and be done with it, but it snowballed beyond what they could handle. Not even bringing in the rest of the family and family adjacent members had helped. He's not even sure it would've helped if Duke and Cass hadn't left the family high and dry and were here to help out. He hasn't told anyone, but he's fairly certain that it is quite literally his fault that they left after Harry did. He doesn't know who he's trying to fool though because in the end they were correct; Harry was the best thing to happen to him and was gone for good. When he'd gone back to Bludhaven the day after he was stunned when he realized that all of Harry's things were gone, absolutely everything he had. He'd given it a couple of days thinking that they could talk it out but was met with a disconnected number. It took Duke and Cass completely leaving almost seven months later that he'd completely squashed any hope of Harry coming back and just continued with Kori. However, that blew up in his face two months later when she'd had enough and confronted him about that day at the manor and the past almost three and a half years. He came clean and was left with a black eye, a sore jaw from getting punched twice and once again being single. It'd taken about a week for the family to find out when Jason showed up early for family dinner yelling about how Kori had left the Outlaws for personal reasons and wasn't sure if she'd ever come back.
Dick shook his head as he stood up because he really didn't want to go down the rabbit hole of how much he'd fucked up again. He needed sleep especially since he knew that this whole cult thing was going to get worse before it got resolved. God, he hoped they failed with whatever this Master of Death thing was they apparently wanted to summon. He didn't want to think about what that could mean for them.
Harry sagged against his front door. It'd been a whole fucking week since he'd found out about a cult trying to summon him. When John and Zatanna left to deal with the ICW and MACUSA, he'd left to head back to England. He trusted Duke and Cass to be able to watch Billy, they had Kreacher to help out as well. He'd first gone to Grimmauld Place to see about any books that could reference anything in regards to this shitshow but left empty-handed to look through Potter Manor. That also proved fruitless so finally he went to Peverell Keep which is where Mort finally decided to show up. However, that avenue also was a bust but did show that in the beginning there were people who did think it was possible to summon the Master of Death, but every attempt was a failure. Mort talked about his amusement watching the mortal's failure especially as he had no master at the time. He at least said that their attempts from back then wouldn't work at all now if someone managed to get a hold of them. But he wasn't sure about whatever they were trying now as he had no idea which concerned even him. Mort being concerned meant this was absolutely going to end terribly.
The door opened and Harry had to try to not fall forward as he looked at Cass standing in the doorway. He ruffled her hair as he followed her to the living room where everyone else was. He happily accepted Billy sitting on his lap like he was trying to burrow into his chest. God, he loved this kid and was really concerned about how this was all affecting him.
"So, how fucked are we?"
Harry turns to John as he downs his glass of alcohol. Kreacher still supplying John with alcohol meant that even he knew how fucking bad this was. He stared at Zatanna who was looking rather subdued in her chair. Duke was trying and failing to look like everything wasn't about to get worse.
"Even Mort is concerned. In the beginning, when no one actually held the title, there were attempts to summon but obviously failed. Since it's clear that there are wixen in the cult, even if they had them it wouldn't work. But Mort isn't sure about whatever they're trying now which concerns him which means it's about to end really fucking bad honestly. If literal Death is concerned with a cult trying to summon me, it's bad."
No one says a thing as they let the silence consume the room. John shoves his head into his hands, Zatanna looks blankly forward while Duke and Cass stare wide eyed at each other. Kreacher stands by the coffee table fiddling with the hem of his uniform letting his eyes run over everyone again and again. Billy tightens his hold on Harry's chest while trying to keep himself calm which doesn't seem to work even with Harry running his hands up and down his back. The group sits in silence for ten minutes before it's broken by furious and rapid swearing from John.
"And Batman is going to make it worse because he doesn't know when to stop. We're fucked."
"After this is over, if there's anything left, I think I'll leave the JLD. No more dealing with people who don't know when to leave alone to those who actually know or at least have a better understanding to learn and know." Zatanna says as she sinks back into her chair.
Bruce sat at the Batcomputer still partially in uniform and he was irritated. They weren't any closer to figuring out whatever this cult was doing, and they hadn't heard from the members of the JLD. Since the revelation that Captain Marvel was really a teenage boy, he'd been trying and failing to find any information he could on the kid. Every time it seemed like he succeeded, something went wrong, and he'd have to start all over again. Any attempts to look into the organizations that John and Zatanna had mentioned went even worse as there was nothing, he could find at all. He was starting to wonder if Dick's ex was part of this wizarding world or something as he couldn't find anything on him now. When he tried it went the same way Captain Marvel's did, just like trying to find out where Duke and Cass had gone several years ago when they left. Nothing popped up or he was redirected before he could find what he wanted. Every single alarm bell was ringing in his head and just causing him to get more and more irritated. He wanted his two kids home; to adopt Captain Marvel's civilian identity is possible, he didn't think his current guardian was very good even if he didn't know him, and for this cult issue to be resolved finally. The last two months were starting too really get to him.
It seemed the end was finally in sight. After almost four months of chasing this cult, they finally had a solid lead. Batman had the whole family with him along with the members of the JL that had been at that meeting minus Martian Manhunter. After that meeting, he seemed to step back from the team which he'd look further into once this whole cult debacle was taken care of. The only update they'd gotten from JLD was that whatever the ICW and MACUSA were, had members looking into it and to leave it alone if they wanted to live. Nightwing had scoffed at that last bit and just went back to planning like he was. The JL would also have to have a talk with the three members of JLD once this was all over as well.
"There are only two members inside. It looks like they're getting ready to start summoning whatever this Master of Death is."
"Thanks Oracle. Everyone is place?"
"This seems a little overkill for only two members. Didn't you say there was more? What happened to them?"
"We don't know Flash. We're still looking into it, but this takes priority." Nightwing responds as he turns to Batman.
"They've started."
"Go."
Everyone bursts through windows and doors running towards the two. They all stop once close enough upon finding out that they're too late though. The circle is glowing a bright emerald green that almost reminds the Batfamily of the Lazarus Waters. Those that can see the faces of the cult members can see the smirks upon their faces knowing that they managed to succeed in whatever they attempted. Spoiler and Red Robin still went ahead and apprehended and cuffed the two though. Just as the two are moved away from the circle it completely lights up blocking everyone's sight. When they look back it is to see a human male figure standing there cursing up a storm.
"You couldn't have waited so this wouldn't have happened?! For fucks sake!"
Before anyone can respond though, a series of loud, sharp cracks are heard, and more people appear. The members of JL look as they see unknowns and the three members of JLD that have been MIA and noticing that Captain Marvel is in his civilian identity. The Batfamily, however, are floored to see both Duke and Cass though they don't recognize whatever their hero ids are now. Everyone is brought back to the matter at hand as a coughing fit is heard from the figure, the apparent Master of Death, as they walk out of the circle.
"Dad."
Every head turns to Captain Marvel as he breaks from Duke's hold and runs to the figure.
"I'm fine kid. Kreacher'll have to patch me up when we get back because of whatever they did but otherwise I'm fine." The figure says as they accept the hug.
"...Harry?" Nightwing asks into the silence causing the Batfamily to look even harder at the human male.
The figure, Harry, doesn't answer but waves his hand bringing light into the room. Sharp breaths are heard as the figure is revealed to indeed be Harry but different from what they knew him to be. Where there had been blood red hair was now black, light skin is now darkened, and most prominently, a lightning shaped scar on the forehead that just barely comes close to intersecting the vivid, vivid green eyes. Then before their eyes Harry shifts to what they remember of him but also seen the anger lit in those eyes.
"Maybe this is what you would prefer to see is it? What I had to change to escape my past, but I prefer my actual self." Harry says as he shifts back to what he looked like out of the circle.
"Harry Potter." One of the cult members breaths out.
"Can't say I know you, but I don't want to. Having five wixen mixed into your little cult is pathetic. You fucking around with shit you don't know or understand is dangerous. What exactly did you think was going to happen when you summoned me? What would you have done if you had failed? What did you want me to go after people or cause damage like most cults want. You recognizing me, while I hate it, also means that whatever you want, I wouldn't have done. These runes you've got to try and bind me and make me obey wouldn't have worked in the slightest. There's actually a lot wrong with your circle so it's a miracle that it even worked in the first place. Probably only happened because Fate's being a bitch, so Mort is going to have fun with that conversation. Now these agents from the ICW and MACUSA are going to take you to the same place your other buddies are-"
"Hold on a minute. They need to be taken by the Justice League to be questioned and then punished." Superman says as he floats forward.
"Is that so boy scout? Well too bad but you have no claim here no matter what you think. They are wixen that were going with muggles to bring harm and destruction. Therefore, they fall under the ICW's and especially this being the US, MACUSA's purview. Hem and ha all you want but you're not taking them. You have no way to detain them, and even if you did, the members of JLD that would have the ways would just hand them over anyway like they're supposed to when coming across wayward wixen."
"Harry, what?" Nightwing asks as he blindly steps forward.
"Stay away from my dad you dickhead." Billy says as he moves in front of Harry.
Duke and Cass snort causing Robin, Red Hood, Spoiler, and Red Robin to look at them in longing and confusion. Zatanna walks towards the cult members with the agents while Constantine stays where he is glaring at both Batman and Nightwing. Nightwing looks at Captain Marvel's civilian identity in confusion before looking back and forth between the kid and Harry. Batman continues to stare at Constantine.
"Hold on a minute. At that meeting you said you had to tell your dad about everything. Then Zatanna said that your dad's family were descendants from Peverell's, but that cult member said his last name is Potter. So, what's the truth here." Green Arrow asks knowing they're missing a bunch of pieces to this puzzle.
"No, you can't stab him even if he deserves it Shadow." Harry says causing many to look at Cass in surprise while she looks despondent and Green Arrow sputters in shock.
"You don't have to dad."
"I know Billy but it's not like they'll remember it. My name is Harry James Potter-Black-Peverell. When the batfamily knew me, it was Harry Juniper Evans as a nod to my mother and to leave behind the bullshit my name gave me in the British Wizarding World. The last member of the Peverell's married into the Potter's so yes, I am a descendent of the Peverell's. I typically was known by Potter before I took on my godfathers last name as Lord Black and then permanently adding Peverell when Billy decided to change his name after some time of adoption considering I'm also Lord Potter and Lord Peverell."
"What do you mean we won't remember?" Wonder Woman asks as her hand flexes around her lasso.
"I mean just that. The Justice League has largely been monitored and deemed to not know about wixen, especially because Batman and his brood are seen as possible threats. Unfortunately for you, due to Batman not knowing when to fucking stop, you've also all been deemed as possible threats. You were warned not to go digging and you did anyway. You tried looking into Billy's civilian identity, tried, again might I add, to look into me, and then tried looking into where Duke and Cass were despite them telling you that you had no right anymore as you were no longer family. You continue to have Batman be the leader and his terrible decision-making skills have now cost you. If he'd done as told you would possibly be slowly learning what would be deemed necessary for you to know on the various wizarding worlds and wixen. But you continue to look towards someone who doesn't know where to draw the line and whose children are generally the same. None of you stop him when he should be in regards to learning about something so his paranoia is your downfall. You won't completely forget everything about this case but there is much that you have learned that you will. But also know this, as Master of Death, I also can lay claim to some things and mark my words, if you want to live, you will rethink your lives and the way you conduct them. The next time any of you, whether you're a Bat or in the JL, the next time you die, that's it, you won't be coming back again regardless of what happens in an alternate dimension that could affect you here. The next time you die, whether it be myself or a reaper, you will be collected to wherever it is you're to go."
Everyone stands staring trying to process what they've just been told. As a result of paying attention to Harry talking, none of them noticed when the two cult members had been whisked away before the agents returned. The batfamily watches as Duke and Cass had moved closer to hug Harry as he'd talked. Zatanna had set herself up to stand behind Harry and Constantine had moved closer to the group while the agents had spread out around the larger group of superheroes.
"So how much of you will I remember?" Nightwing asks as he stares at the one who truly got away.
"If I was crueler nothing. But I'm not that cruel and it would weirdly affect how you'd remember Duke and Cass leaving."
"Why are they with you?" Robin asks as his hand keeps moving towards his katana.
"Because Harry's family unlike the rest of you. We weren't the ones who treated him like shit and didn't say anything about him being cheated on for probably his whole relationship. We weren't the ones who were unfair for no apparent reason that even Bruce and Alfred didn't like him. You all kept quiet about everything while Dick was nothing but a piece of shit in the end."
Cass shakes her head when Spoiler tries to move closer. Red Hood takes off his helmet staring in shock as he can see that while Duke is in a fighting stance, Cass actually has a weapon in hand that she clearly won't hesitate to use. Red Robin looks between the small group trying to wrap his head around everything. Nightwing just looks pained as his problems are thrown in his face again.
"Makes me real glad that you never actually ended up proposing."
"Wait what?" Billy asks as he turns to look at his dad.
"How?" Cass asks as her and Duke knew they'd never mentioned anything about it to Harry.
"Kreacher figured it out after he'd collected everything of mine from both the apartment and the manor. He actually found the ring along with papers filled with ideas for the proposal."
The batfamily all turn to look at Dick in shock. The kids are all confused about this considering they knew about the cheating but yet apparently, he still wanted to propose. Batman on the other hand is irritated that he knew nothing about this while also being happy that it never actually ended up happening.
"I'd actually planned to tell you about my magic and the truth for our three-year anniversary. Now you know but it will be erased from your mind, so it doesn't really matter that you found out in the end."
Nightwing falls to his knees as he looks heartbroken. In the beginning he didn't care much about taking out of 'Brucie's' book, but it truly has done nothing but ruin everything around him apparently. He stares at Harry knowing that he truly lost the best thing to ever happen to him. And it also cost him two members of his family, the only ones who cared and loved Harry like he did because he did nothing about the attitudes the others had. He takes off his domino mask so he can better wipe his eyes when he realizes he's crying and it's uncomfortable.
"Can we finish this up and go back home now? Unless you want me to end up murdering someone." Constantine asks as he leans against Zatanna behind Harry.
"You just want us back in bed."
"Please tell me he's not becoming my other dad?!"
"If we're going for older, I'd rather have Zatanna as another parent than mister alcoholic over here."
"You'd know if I was seeing someone honey. And I could do a lot better than John if I was looking older."
Constantine just rolls his eyes and pats his pocket looking for a cig. When he's away from the house is the only time, he can now and wants to take advantage even if it's short lived. He's also probably going to lose alcohol again once back now that this mess is finally over.
"Alright I think it's time we wrap this up."
Before any of the agents can go through with obliviating the others a black cloud forms in between the small group and the heroes. They watch as Constantine starts looking nervous, the others look excited, while Harry just rolls his eyes clearly knowing what's happening. When the cloud of black evaporates, what's left before them is something that looks humanoid but they're fairly certain isn't. What none of the heroes realize is that the being shifts what it looks like to each person so some of them may see the same thing while others don't.
"I would suggest you stand down Diana Prince. We don't want anyone dying."
"What are you?" Green Arrow asks as he notches an arrow and beside him Black Canary gets ready like she's going to scream.
"Mort."
"Death." Wonder Woman breathes as she pales.
The others finally realizing begin to pale as well despite wanting to be prepared realizing that it wouldn't work no matter what. Constatine pales coming face to face with the being he hoped never to come across until he literally was at the absolute end for him. Harry looks annoyed but has a feeling that Mort is there to help somehow with making the heroes forget what they're supposed to. Duke, Cass, Billy, and Zatanna are just excited to finally see Mort even if they know they should probably be scared that literal death is standing before them. The various ICW and MACUSA agents are scared and concerned not knowing why Death would be here when no one died.
"Are you going to say why you're here or not?"
"No need to get snippy Master. I came to help with having them forget and that the next time they die it's the end. Figured I'd add a little something, so they don't try to find a way to come back again since Fate decided to be a little bitch. So, the obliviators won't be needed."
The agents look between Harry and literal Death before he nods, and they leave but not before he wipes away what they don't need to know from this whole mess. They may have been top agents but that doesn't mean they need to know everything for this issue.
"You can try to make me forget but it won't work."
Red Robin and Spoiler both hiss at Robin to shut up knowing that he is probably going to get himself killed if he keeps going.
"Considering you were supposed to have died when you were a baby but those pathetic pits that your family falsely lays claim to revived you, I can easily take you back to my realm now if I so chose. I don't need my master for that. Your brother Red Hood came back due to something from another dimension and then his own dip in the pits. He's running on borrowed time because he came back incorrectly. Many of you here have died and came back when you should've joined my realm. Do not think you have power over literal death child, or you will see how pathetic you've been."
"Okay stop fighting with a literal child and get this over with. I wanna go back home please."
"As you wish master." Mort says smirking before waving his hands.
The heroes all feel as bits and pieces relating to this case start disappearing from their minds no matter how much they try to bring them back. Batman can do nothing as he watches so much disappear that he knows will be fruitless to try and get back in regards to this case and more. Nightwing stares at Harry as he loses memories to this case but knowing that this is the last time he'll see Harry for good. He just knows that he'll never see him again even if randomly in wild. He's going to have nothing but the memories and pictures to remind him that he once had the best thing, but he destroyed it in the end.
As the heroes stand in a daze as their memories are edited, the smaller group all grab hold of Harry before they disappear.
When the heroes come back to themselves, they're by themselves in the warehouse. The members of the JLD already left with the two cult members without saying anything.
"We're going to have a conversation with the about just leaving without saying anything at the end of a case." Superman says as he looks around.
Batman grunts in response before the heroes all leave. The only one who feels slightly off is Nightwing who feels like it was the absolute end of something but doesn't know what.
"What do you mean you two and Captain Marvel are leaving JLD?"
Constantine and Zatanna look around at the table. The main members are sat around looking at the forms that they presented and noticing that Martian Manhunter is the only one missing. They both look at each other realizing that this whole mess really meant he was the only one using his brain. They'd wondered when he wasn't at the warehouse and now have confirmation.
"It means exactly what it says Bats. We're done dealing with you guys who don't know where to draw lines and ends up making thing worse in the end. The three of us weren't the only ones on the team. Now you'll just have to go to the others or find others. We don't really care but we've had enough. As for Captain Marvel, he's taking a step back and focusing more on his civilian life, so he'd decided to leave as well. Asked us to hand the form over and we did. All our units of stuff are emptied including his and all the communicators and other various bits we may have had have been returned. Now that that's done, we'll be leaving and hoping to never see you lot again."
The League watches as the two walk out of the room before looking back around the table. They're not sure what went wrong with this last case that they got pulled into Gotham and Bludhaven but something must have for this to happen. The three most useful members of Justice League Dark have left, and they've noticed that Martian Manhunter seems to have been stepping back as well. None of them fully seem to realize though that are mostly part of the problem and it'll be some time before many of them even reach that conclusion.
Batman watches irritated as this case may be over but seems to continue causing problems. He can't prove it, but he knows that something else happened at the warehouse when they apprehended the two cult members. Jason has been slowly subdued but also slowly integrating more into the family. Dick on the other hand has seemed to slowly be pulling away but he doesn't think it'll be like Duke and Cass were they completely left the family. Damian has seemed down but with no real reason as to why while Stephanie and Tim seem to keep looking like they're expecting to see Duke and Cass around despite being almost three years since they left. He's never been good with his feelings but might have to look more into them, so he doesn't lose more of his family than he already has.
Back in Fawcett City, Constantine and Zatanna return to the family they didn't know they needed. They return to two former bats that haven't looked back once at what they'd left. Then there's the other member of the JLD that left as well, truly living out what's left of his teenage years actually being a teenager alongside a wixen that is absolutely incredible considering all the pain he's faced in his life. Never once did they think they'd ever know that a fairytale told to wixen children would be real and that the man marked as the Master of Death would become family. Here they are though and while Constantine will complain, neither of them would trade if for the world.